Not sure if its just me - but are Ofcom cranking up the pressure here? Or are the recent rash of breaches simply a reflection of a larger sector that by definition has a wide range of competence and cock ups within it?<br>
<br>As to the reporting requirements - I'm with Richard on this - it could be a hell of a lot worse and it is all there in black and white when you sign up. I'm not without sympathy for station managers left on their tod to do the dull paperwork - but as someone else said - planning the data collection over the year makes things a lot more do-able.<br>
<br>Some of the issue of the capacity to deliver on administration revolves around what understanding your volunteers have when they sign up. Is it 'play and go' or a broader commitment to help the station thrive? There's an interesting story on that front with ALLFM here in Manchester, where the agreement from the volunteers to pay a small subscription to help pay the rent has also meant a greater involvement by them in the running of the station - a very healthy state of affairs. Obvioulsy there'll be stations where this has always been the way - but in 'these times' getting all volunteers chipping in off air [e.g. doing some admin] is going to be crucial to survival.<br>
<br>bests<br><br>Phil<br><br><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On 5 August 2011 08:36, Richard Berry <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:richard.berry@sunderland.ac.uk">richard.berry@sunderland.ac.uk</a>></span> wrote:<br>
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<div style="font-style: normal; display: inline; font-family: 'Calibri'; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: small; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">There’s
a very tricky balance here isn’t there? With ofcom walking a tightrope between
giving stations the room to run their affairs and being the protector of the
sector. We’d all agree that if a neighbouring station was barely broadcasting
and you were working hard every day to put out the very best programming you
can, that ofcom ought to intervene? I’m sure the government has it’s eye on
ofcom and would relish the chance to cut it down to size and there may be a
chance to influence that but my hunch is if that happens giving more wiggle room
to community radio will not be on the to-do list. </div></div>
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<div style="font-style: normal; display: inline; font-family: 'Calibri'; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: small; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">As
for the recent sanction. I always tell my students that ofcom is a bit like your
mum; there are rules and you’ll get told off if you break them but you can
lessen that if you tell her. Try and hide from what you’ve done or plead
ignorance and you’ll be in more trouble. Break the rules when your brother has
already been grounded for the same thing and expect her to come down even harder
on you. Yes that means reading the bulletins carefully every month and
considering what that means for your station and, yes, it means checking you’re
in line with what you’ve said you’ll do but when you accept a licence you accept
that as the T&C’s. It’s like a driving licence, there are rules attached to
the freedoms. </div></div>
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<div style="font-style: normal; display: inline; font-family: 'Calibri'; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: small; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">The
report might be a mess. It’s confusing and time consuming but under the current
rules it’s probably the best check and balance there is. What would the
alternative be? Submission of all accounts? A visit from ofcom to look at the
books and listen to the tapes? I do agree though some work could be done in
making it user-friendly and maybe this is where the expertise of community
engagement in the sector can help ofcom – who are after all a governmental
agency used to making forms, not filling them in. </div></div>
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<div style="font-style: normal; display: inline; font-family: 'Calibri'; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: small; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">Richard</div></div>
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<div style="font-style: normal; display: inline; font-family: 'Calibri'; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: small; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">University
of Sunderland</div></div>
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<div style="font-style: normal; display: inline; font-family: 'Calibri'; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: small; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.sunderlandradio.co.uk" target="_blank">http://www.sunderlandradio.co.uk</a></div>
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-- <br>Phil Korbel<br>Director<br>0161 237 5454<br><br>Radio Regen is a community, media and urban regeneration charity <br>A company limited by guarantee and registered in England and Wales No. 3753832 <br>Registered office: 12 Hilton Street, Manchester, M1 1JF <br>
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